Digital Tradition Mirror

The Old Grey Duck

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

The Old Grey Duck

The old grey duck she stole her nest
And laid up in the fields
And when the young ones they came forth
They had no tails nor beels
They had no tails nor beels,
They had no tails nor beels
And when the young ones they came forth
They had no tails nor beels.

Two eggs were addled and one was broke
And they were thrown away
The young ones they could clunk nor swim
They all died that same day
They all died that same day
They all died that same day
The young ones they could clunk nor swim
They all died that same day

Next time we'll put her in the barn
And tie her by the heels
The young ones they may have the chance
To grow their tails and beels
To grow their tails and beels
To grow their tails and beels
The young ones they may have the chance
To grow their tails and beels

Recorded at Pendeen in 1956 by Peter Kennedy for the B.B.C. Sung
rather slow. The tune is that of a well known carol "The Seven
Good Joys" included in Dunstan's Cornish Song Book When we sing
this in Cadgwith everyone joins in with the repeated lines but
when sung by Male Choirs the top line is usually sung an octave
lower so that the second part comes out highest. BAZ

BAZ
Apr98

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!